WELCOME
The Irving Park Community Food Pantry began as a response in the neighborhood to frequent requests for food. In the early 1970s Leila Duncan, a member of Irving Park United Methodist Church, purchased and delivered groceries personally to individuals and families in the area. We are proud of our history.
The Irving Park Community Food Pantry focuses on increasing community awareness of hunger related issues as well as feeding people at risk of hunger. We serve people regardless of religious, ethnic or political affiliation. The Pantry is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. A volunteer staff of 15-20 individuals assists with all phases of operation. Our resources come from a variety of sources. The Pantry is open for food distribution every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The Pantry's service area includes all of zip code 60641 and that portion of 60618 west of Kedzie Ave.
FOOD DRIVES
On-going: Little Helpers Community Services (3524 1/2 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60618). Collecting both people and pet food Donated people food will be donated to the Irving Park Community Food Pantry. For information call 773-539-9410.
July 18, 2008: The Old Irving Park Association Parents Committee is collecting donations of school supllies for the Pantry during their Annual Picnic.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE
The Pantry is collecting school supplies to help more than 500 children begin the school year on the right track. Donations of pens, pencils, spiral notebooks, folders, crayons, rulers, loose leaf paper, crayons and markers are needed. Please contact us if you would like to support our school supplies drive. We will begin distributing school supplies to our families in late July.
We are in Need of the Following:
The Irving Park Community Food Pantry is located in the lower level of the Irving Park United Methodist Church. We are located at 3801 N Keeler (Corner of Keeler and Grace Streets). We are open on Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm.
At The Irving Park Community Food Pantry, We Are Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Wed 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Copyright 2009. Irving Park Community Food Pantry. All Rights Reserved
Irving Park Community Food Pantry * 3801 N Keeler Ave. Chicago, IL 60641 * Phone: 773-283-6296 * Fax: 773-283-5945
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Irving Park Community Food Pantry * Providing Food to Our Neighbors for 25 Years
As our Pantry observes twenty five years of serving our community, we look back at how it all began. The following reflections were written by Nora Byrne, a board member and volunteer who has been involved with the Pantry throughout its existence.
Last week at Bible Study we were talking about the pantry and how it began. That got me to thinking about the first year, 1984. All the churches in the area were getting more and more requests for food. The Methodist Church already had a pantry of sorts and they had a government cheese and butter program in place. (Remember that.) The need was getting to be more than individual churches could handle, so a group got together in April of that year to discuss pooling resources and organzing a pantry. Coral Prebble, a student intern at this church, asked me if I would go as representative of this church, with NO OBLIGATION for future meetings.
I looked up the first Annual Report from1984. Following are some exerpts:
"In April of this year [1984], a re-organization began, to enable us to better serve the growing hunger needs of the community... Then on June 11, officers were elected and committee assignments were made. Many of us left that meeting feeling completely overwhelmed and totally inadequate for the task ahead. The pantry was almost empty, the treasury was small ($345). "By the end of July, we had...no food in the pantry and no money in the treasury. In August & September, we received no cheese or butter... Our co-ordinator [a volunteer] was unable to give the time needed. We put out a call for help to our churches, and got it--in money, food and volunteers." It goes on to say that we had a spaghetti dinner fund raiser in September and by the end of October had over $1,000 in our treasury. In November, we hired our first director and "everything improved immediately."
Notice the date--1984. This means that the Irving Park Food Pantry opened its doors 25 years ago this June. A lot has changed. We now serve over 400 families each month, which is more than double 1984, and the numbers keep increasing. We have a healthy treasury and many wonderful volunteers. We are known in the industry to be one of the best run pantries on the Northwest side of Chicago.
It is amazing what a small group of "overwhelmed" Christians can do when they see a need and work together for the good of all. I am proud to be a part of this group, as we should all be no matter how small or large the contribution to the whole. As Tiny Tim would say, "God bless us all."
Nora Byrne
Thank you to all who supported us in this event. There is still time to make a donation!
Thank you to all who participated in and supported us in the 24th Annual Hunger Walk organized by the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The funds raised through this event are used to purchase food from GCFD throughout the year. Please help us to reach that goal. For further information, or to register or donate online. please click here.
Visit our Breadcrumbs archives to view past and current issues our Pantry newsletter
2009 Hunger Walk Forms Center
Please download Hunger Walk forms here:
Jewel/Osco Shop & Share Days
Please support our Pantry by shopping at Jewel / Osco on July 6, 7 and 8, 2009. Please present this coupon at the time of check out and Jewel / Osco will donate 5% of your purchase to the Pantry.